Ohio Parenting Classes for Divorce: Requirements, Cost, and Approved Programs

Ohio's Mandatory Parenting Class Requirement

Under R.C. 3109.053, Ohio courts can require both parents to complete a parenting education course in any divorce, dissolution, or legal separation involving minor children. In practice, nearly every county in Ohio treats this as mandatory — your final decree won't be entered until both parents submit proof of completion.

The class isn't designed to teach you how to parent. It's focused on helping children cope with the psychological effects of their parents' separation — topics like maintaining stability during transitions, recognizing signs of stress in children at different developmental stages, and avoiding behaviors that put children in the middle of parental conflict.

Both parents must complete the class, even in an uncontested dissolution where everything is agreed. The requirement applies whether you have an attorney or you're representing yourself.

What the Classes Cover and How Long They Take

The length and format vary by county because each domestic relations court selects its own approved programs and sets its own local rules. Here's what several major counties require:

Monroe County mandates a 2-hour in-person class called "Helping Children Cope with Divorce," run by the OSU Extension Office.

Butler County requires a 4-hour Zoom class, "Helping Families Succeed During Divorce," split into two 2-hour sessions.

Union County requires a 4-hour online course through Online Parenting Programs, which can be completed at your own pace.

Delaware County participates in the national Families in Transition (FIT) pilot program through the National Center for State Courts — a 90-minute asynchronous interactive online course offered free of charge during the pilot phase.

The most widely recognized program across Ohio is "Children in Between" (CIBO), a research-based curriculum used in dozens of counties. It typically runs 4 hours and is available both in-person and online depending on the county. Some courts also approve the "A-OK" program and courses from ProParenting.

Cost and Fee Waivers

Most approved parenting classes cost between $30 and $46 per parent. Online courses tend to be at the lower end of this range, while in-person programs with facilitators may charge more.

If you've filed a fee waiver affidavit (Supreme Court Form 20) because your income falls at or below 187.5% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, the court can order the class fee waived or reduced. You'll need to request this specifically — it's not automatic, even if your filing fees were waived.

Online vs. In-Person: County Rules Matter

Before signing up for an online class, check your county's local rules. Most Ohio counties now accept online completion, but a few have specific restrictions. Summit County and Adams County, for example, require parents to get court permission before completing the class online rather than in person.

When you complete the course, the program provider issues a certificate of completion. File this certificate with the court clerk — the judge or magistrate will verify completion before entering the final decree.

Timing: When to Take the Class

Complete the class early in your case. Some counties require completion before the final hearing can be scheduled. In a dissolution, where the hearing must occur between 30 and 90 days after filing under R.C. 3105.64, waiting until the last minute to complete the class can delay your decree.

Many parents complete the class shortly after filing, while the case is still in the temporary-orders or discovery phase. The content is actually useful at that stage — the strategies for reducing the impact of divorce on children are most effective when applied from the beginning of the separation, not after the decree is entered.

What Happens If You Don't Complete It

If one parent refuses to complete the required parenting class, the court has several options. In a divorce case, the judge may hold the non-complying parent in contempt. In a dissolution, the court can refuse to enter the final decree until the class requirement is satisfied.

The Ohio Child Custody & Parenting Plan Guide includes a county-by-county breakdown of filing requirements, including which parenting class programs each court accepts and how to submit your completion certificate.

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